Attachment (PAPER 1) Flashcards
(AO1) What is interactional synchrony?
The coordinated, mirrored interaction between caregiver and infant, e.g., mirroring facial expressions.
(AO1) What is reciprocity in infant-caregiver interaction?
Turn-taking in interaction — responding to each other’s signals in a meaningful way.
(AO3) What research supports interactional synchrony?
Meltzoff & Moore (1977): babies as young as 2–3 weeks imitated adult facial expressions.
(AO3) What’s a limitation of studying caregiver-infant interactions?
Difficult to determine what’s intentional — babies’ expressions may not be deliberate, so findings may lack validity.
(AO1) What roles do mothers and fathers typically play in attachment?
Mothers usually form primary attachment; fathers often provide play and stimulation (Grossman, 2002).
(AO1) What are the four stages of attachment according to Schaffer & Emerson (1964)?
1) Asocial, 2) Indiscriminate, 3) Specific, 4) Multiple attachments.
(AO3) What’s a limitation of Schaffer’s study?
Based on mothers’ reports — subject to bias or social desirability.
(AO1) At what age does specific attachment typically develop?
Around 7 months — separation and stranger anxiety emerge.
(AO3) What’s a strength of Schaffer’s study?
High ecological validity — conducted in families’ homes using observations and interviews.
(AO1) What did Lorenz (1935) find in his study of imprinting?
Geese imprinted on the first moving object they saw; supports innate attachment mechanisms.
(AO1) What did Harlow (1958) find about contact comfort?
Monkeys preferred a cloth surrogate over a wire one with food — contact comfort > food.
(AO3) What ethical issue applies to Harlow’s study?
Caused long-term emotional damage to the monkeys — raised concerns about animal welfare.
(AO3) How do these animal studies support Bowlby’s theory?
They suggest attachment is innate and has survival value.
(AO1) What does the learning theory say about attachment formation?
Attachment is learned via classical conditioning (association with food) and operant conditioning (reward for staying close).
(AO3) What’s a major criticism of learning theory?
Harlow’s study contradicts it — monkeys attached to comfort, not food.
(AO3) Is learning theory completely invalid?
No — it may play a role in forming associations, but it doesn’t fully explain attachment.
(AO1) What is Bowlby’s monotropic theory?
Attachment is innate and adaptive; infants form one primary attachment (monotropy), which creates an internal working model
(AO1) What is the critical period according to Bowlby?
Attachment must form within 2.5 years (ideally 6 months–2 years), or it may not develop properly.
(AO3) What is the internal working model?
A mental template for future relationships based on early attachment experiences.
(AO3) What evidence supports Bowlby’s theory?
Minnesota longitudinal study — early attachment predicts later social and emotional competence.
(AO3) What is a criticism of monotropy?
Some infants form multiple attachments at the same time — contradicts strict hierarchy.
(AO1) What are the three attachment types identified in the Strange Situation?
Secure, Insecure-Avoidant, Insecure-Resistant.
(AO1) What behaviours are observed in the Strange Situation?
Separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, reunion behaviour, exploration.
(AO3) What is a strength of the Strange Situation?
High reliability — standardised and replicable procedure.
